Congressman: Autistic Marlboro teen Michael Karwan found safe in Ohio

About Justin Auciello

A lifelong resident of South Seaside Park, Justin Auciello is a surfer, urban planner, journalist and traveler.

He prefers life in boardshorts and bare feet and aims to live the "endless summer," which he somewhat accomplishes by spending time in Puerto Rico each winter, where he lives with the family of his lovely girlfriend, Andreica, and surfs the northwestern coast of the Isla del Encanto.

But most of all, Justin's insatiable drive is to keep people informed, whether it is covering a breaking news event on Jersey Shore Hurricane News – a two-way news outlet covering news, traffic and weather that he founded in August 2011 – or simply educating children about rip current safety during a lazy day on the beach.

Michael Karwan, the autistic Marlboro 19-year-old who left his home more than week ago after an argument with his parents, was found safe in Ohio Tuesday evening, a congressman said.

"Michael Karwan has been found safe in Cleveland and will soon reunite with family!" tweeted U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), a family friend who was helping with search efforts. "It's a Thanksgiving blessing!"

Police found Karwan in a hotel after he attempted to check in Tuesday night, the congressman's office said. A hotel staffer called police after determining that Karwan was missing from home.

Details surrounding his journey to Ohio were not immediately available.

Karwan was first spotted in Freehold shortly after his disappearance, eventually ending up at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, where he asked for directions and accidentally boarded a bus for Marlboro, NY.

Concerned citizens searched for Karwan in Manhattan, New Jersey, and upstate New York.

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